tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post2414322327411299808..comments2024-03-27T05:56:36.051-04:00Comments on H A R L E M + B E S P O K E: ☞ ARCHITECTURE: Harlem Storefront LandmarksUlysseshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00817576268296958520noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-9079855356030858292013-01-04T11:36:29.244-05:002013-01-04T11:36:29.244-05:00I believe that part of the reason they are trying ...I believe that part of the reason they are trying to expand the Mt Morris Park Historical district is to try to preserve more of the historic buildings and brownstones west of Lenox Ave. and north to 125th street. Unfortunately, the Lenox Lounge block was not land marked..an expansion won't help it now but might prevent similar fates for other historic buildings RJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-23840859007746337132013-01-04T10:30:56.020-05:002013-01-04T10:30:56.020-05:00Sadly, the landmarking process is not just a matte...Sadly, the landmarking process is not just a matter of esthetics and historical value and the financial standing of owners who are at times burdened by the extra costs that landmarking can impose. I wrote about this issue years back in the Village Voice and found that instead, it's sometimes all about politics, which in New York City all too often means race. Benign neglect means that New York's African-America (and Latino) communities are storehouses of architectural treasures, yet these neighborhoods are severely under-landmarked. Maybe Harlem needs private, non-profit groups like Landmarks West on the West Side?<br /><br />Then again, wasn't it Le Corbusier who said that if architects have to choose between serving the living and the dead, we should always choose the living. Jonathan Gillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-28472476009872729592013-01-03T17:12:18.056-05:002013-01-03T17:12:18.056-05:00Perhaps they have an answer as to why the Lenox Lo...Perhaps they have an answer as to why the Lenox Lounge was not listed. Could be a number of reasons. I would imagine it would have to be a good one as it would seem an obvious choice to protect it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-42467421719938408742013-01-03T16:27:21.960-05:002013-01-03T16:27:21.960-05:00Each of Harlem's 3 community boards have a Lan...Each of Harlem's 3 community boards have a Landmark Committee to manage this particular issue.Ulysseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817576268296958520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-52505394599826151742013-01-03T16:17:08.986-05:002013-01-03T16:17:08.986-05:00The answer to why these buildings are not listed o...The answer to why these buildings are not listed on a historical landmark are easy - no one actually took the time to fill out the paperwork and go through the process. We have lost the Lenox Lounge but if we don't want to lose any more make sure they are on a historic register! I don't even know of how to look up if a building is on a register. Is there a "Historic Harlem Society"? If not it would be a great time for folks to organize. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048034911181517049.post-60977455730384832612013-01-03T15:59:02.121-05:002013-01-03T15:59:02.121-05:00yup, i've wondered about this (landmark design...yup, i've wondered about this (landmark designation) every time i c a harlem brownstone being gutted for mod interiors. julinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12668090389168135089noreply@blogger.com